Works minister Dave Umahi has directed project managers and engineers to maintain meticulous records for the Lagos-Calabar Highway, reiterating the need for detailed documentation by the end of September.

Mr Umahi, who gave the directive during an inspection of the project and some bridges in Lagos, said all construction levels must be carefully documented.

“All the levels, from existing ground level to levels after removing bad soil, refilling, and pavement, must be put together and shared with oversight bodies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the National Assembly. When the job is done, people may forget, so these records are important,” he said.

The minister, who pointed out the importance of transparency, also instructed that two television stations should be taken to the site every week to show sections of the ongoing work to the public.

“People need to know what is happening here. It takes courage for the contractor, for the ministry, and for Mr President, who approved this project. When the road is completed, Nigerians may not understand the effort that went into it, so we must showcase it,” Mr Umahi said.

The minister noted that some sections required removal of poor materials to depths of between five and 20 metres before refilling with stone lumps and sand.

According to him, such deep fillings were critical for the road’s durability.

“I am very happy with Hitech. No other contractor would have done this. Their equipment and workforce remind me of an anthill, with trucks and machines working everywhere. There are so many unwritten things being done here for the stability of this job,” he said.

Mr Umahi commended the quality of sand filling, stone base, and reinforcement, describing Hitech Construction Company as “highly courageous and committed to national development”.

He added that the ministry would continue to approve certificates for payment without delay, as the works had been verified on-site.

The 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the federal government’s flagship road projects, aimed at boosting connectivity, trade, and development across coastal states.

(NAN)